Flexible cordage



HARRY H. MATTESON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FLEXIBLE CORDAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 10,411, dated January 10, 1854. l

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HARRY H. MATTEsoN, of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new.

and useful improvements in flexible cordage for belting, running over pulleys, drums, &c., or for any purpose where it is desirable to have or use a cord or belt that will not stretch or shrink by use or exposure,'and that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, representing a portion of the cord finished, a portion merely covered by waterproof covering, and a portion of the whalebone strips which forms the center of the cord uncovered.

The natureof my invention consists in forming a cord, line, or belt, which shall be sufliciently flexible to be used, and yet not stretch or shrink by use or exposure.

'Io enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de- .scribe the same with reference to thedrawings.

The cord or belt may be of any size, and round, square or flat as may be found most desirable for the purpose to which it is to be applied, and of any required length. I first take strips or shreds of whalebone a, a, a, or any other equally strong and flexible inaterial such as bamboo or ratan and form a core or body on which the cord is to be built 0r formed. These shreds or strips may be laid in straight in such lengths as may be found most easily procured, and can be spliced or extended by merely lying them in lengthwise one after the other, as they run out. The shreds are next covered by oiled silk, india rubber, gutta percha, (as seen at b, b or any other water proof material, the ob]ect being to prevent moisture of any kind from penetrating the cord when finished. The shreds thus coated forma.

center, and over this is plaited cotton, flax or silk thread, after the manner of covering whip stocks, or making whip lashes,'which completes the cord as seen at c. The plaiting should be done sulliciently tight yto rmly hold the strips or shreds a, together, and thus I form a cord or belt that will run over a drum, or pulley, that is impervious to moisture, and will not shrink or stretch by use or exposure and still cheap enough to enter largely into use. -By increasing the size of the cord, a corresponding increase in numbers of the shreds should also be made,

so as to adapt the cord or belt to the degree of weight or strain it is intended to carry or sustain, and kthe cord when completed may be coated with any gummy or resinous substance as varnish to smooth and finish it,

and aid, in its impenetrability to moisture,

and general firmness.v y

Having thus fully described the nature of my invention I would state thatV I layno claim to the making of cables or cordage of wire, but

What I claim herein as new and desire 4to secure by Letters Patent isf The method of making'lexiblecordage; impervious to moisture, and that will not shrink or stretch by use or exposure by forming the body or core of shreds of whalebone, bamboo vor ratan, covered by a waterproof coating, and the whole completely covered by plaited thread, substantially as described.

y HARRY H. MATTEsoN.y Witnesses:

I. Gr. DODGE, A. W. BUDLONG. 

